Once a week leading up to spring drills, Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister has focused on a position, analyzed the competition, and speculated as to some of the story lines that could emerge. This week, two days before the start of spring drills, it's Notre Dame's punters and kickers.
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2005 (JUNIOR): Was Notre Dame's primary kickoff man for the first three games of the season ... has played in five games (Pittsburgh, Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse and Stanford) ... has kicked off 20 times for 1,115 yards (55.8-yard average) and has forced two opponent touchbacks in the end zone ... was successful on his only extra-point attempt against Syracuse, the first of his Irish career ... made two special teams appearances versus Syracuse, kicking the Irish's final point-after conversion and the ensuing kickoff in the fourth period ... was good on his first career field goal attempt against Stanford and made one extra-point attempt in the victory ... his 29-yard field goal gave the Irish a 23-14 lead over the Cardinal in the fourth period ... kicked off five times versus Stanford ... has logged 21 special teams appearances.

2004 (SOPHOMORE): Played in five games (BYU, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington and Purdue) ... handled most of the kickoff duties throughout the first five games ... made 24 kickoffs that totaled 1,329 yards ... had a 55.4-yard kickoff average ... made 24 special teams appearances.

2003 (FRESHMAN): Did not see action as a walk-on freshman kicker for the Irish.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Valparaiso (Ind.) High School ... a three-time Indiana all-state selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association ... named Associated Press all-state and honorable mention all-Midwest as a senior in 2002 ... earned Indiana Mr. Football Position Award (kicker) as a senior ... IFCA academic all-state and National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete as a senior ... earned four letters in football ... finished with 30 career field goals and 178 conversion kicks, including a streak of 71 straight ... born Jan. 24, 1985 ... full name is Carl Daniel Gioia ... youngest of four children ... his brother Tom played football at Yale ... was a high school teammate of Irish wide receiver Jeff Samardzija ... enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters with a major in history and ALPP (Arts and Letters Pre-Professional).